My grandfather died.

Maybe I will talk about it later. Likely I will not.

UPDATE 03/09/2005: Okay, I leave on a plane tomorrow for the services.

This was my grandfather. It's probably in poor taste to brag on one's relatives, particularly after they've passed on, but let me crib from it a little anyway:

He served in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II seeing action in North Africa and Italy. In 1939, he started in banking as the Custodian, later serving as President of the Bank of American Fork and retired as the Vice Chairman of the Board in 2004. He served on the American Fork City Council, two terms as Mayor of American Fork, and two terms as a State Legislator. He served as Director, Vice President, and President of the American Fork Rotary Club. Served for 14 years on the American Fork Hospital Board including a term as Chairman.

He was the sort of man they don't much make anymore (which might partially explain why I spend a good deal of time on this blog picking on the menfolk, come to think of it). He did everything for everybody.

You know what it doesn't say in the obituary?--He built his own house. I don't mean he hired some contractor and ran around town boasting about his "custom-built home" like all the yuppie folk do nowadays; I mean he designed and built the whole thing himself, from basement to rooftop. He worked three jobs at one point to save the money. Meanwhile his family were living in another house next door and I could be wrong about this, but I want to say he built that one too. See, this is the stuff I'd know better if I'd kept in touch more THE WAY GRANDCHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO. I didn't even know he'd served in the state legislature. I'm pathetic.

Anyway, he was an amazing guy. I'll miss him a lot.

Posted by Ilyka at March 8, 2005 05:48 AM in navel gazing